Composite materials play a central role in modern engineering systems due to their high performance and design flexibility. At the same time, their structural reliability, long-term durability and end-of-life management represent major challenges in the context of engineering against failure and sustainable development.

Failure behaviour in composite materials is governed by complex, multiscale damage mechanisms, strongly influenced by material architecture, environmental exposure, loading history and ageing processes. In parallel, increasing attention is being devoted to recycling and end-of-life strategies for composite materials, as recycling and reprocessing operations may significantly modify material integrity, damage evolution and residual mechanical performance, with direct implications for reliability, reuse and second-life applications.

Within this framework, particular attention will be given to sustainable composite systems, including bio-based, natural fibre reinforced and hybrid composites, in order to highlight similarities and differences in damage mechanisms, durability and failure behaviour.

This session aims to provide a focused forum on failure mechanisms, damage evolution, durability and recycling of composite materials, with emphasis on engineering methodologies for failure prevention, lifecycle performance assessment and reliable design. Contributions addressing experimental characterization, modelling approaches and application-oriented studies are encouraged, in line with the core themes of ICEAF on engineering against failure.